By 1480, the 'basse danse' emerged as a major fashion fixture in Burgundian and French court culture, characterized by its elegant, slow-moving style. This dance required participants to glide smoothly across the floor without leaving it, emphasizing grace and poise. The basse danse not only reflected the social customs of the time but also influenced the development of later dance forms and courtly etiquette.

The rhythmic cadence of the basse danse heavily influenced the courtly cadence of late-medieval French poetry, establishing a cultural expectation of stately, measured aristocratic pace in lyric verse. Poets like Charles d'Orléans adapted their styles to reflect this evolving musicality in their compositions.